Cigar enveloping machine



March 26, 1940. J. A. NEUMAIR CIGAR ENVELOPING MACHINE Filed June 8,1957 '7 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR l Ja /U1 Manual 5: TI'ORNEY March 1940' J.A. NEUMAIR 2,195,222

CIGAR ENVELOPING MACHINE Filed June 8, 19.37 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVE NTOR4.5 5 a 76 BY./0se p/1 fl/'zzmark ATTORNEY March 26, 1940. NEUMAlR2,195,222

CIGAR ENVELOPING MACHINE BY fiqqai 2 ATTo RNEY March 26, 1940. J,NEUMAlR 2,195,222

CIGAR ENVELOPING MACHINE Filed June 8, 1937 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 W; WATTORNEY Nfarch 26, 1940. J, NEUMAIR 2,195,222

CIGAR ENVELOPING MACHINE Filed-June 8, 1937 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR 5605 flzzmaz'r Y WW TTORNEY J. A. NEUMAIR CIGAR ENVELOPING MACHINE March26, 1940.

7' Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed June a. 193'! ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 26, 1940UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIGAR ENVELOPING MACHINE Application June 8,1937, Serial No. 147,003

37 Claims.

This invention relates to cigar packages, especially to the provision ofcigars with individual wrappers, and more particularly to the provisionof a cigar with a readily detachable envelope or sealed wrapper made ofa bright material such as a pglished metal foil backed with a cellulosicfabric coated with an elastic lacquer.

The use of metal foil wrappei's backed with glassene paper coated with athermoplastic material such as a suitable lacquer is known, and a cigarwith a polished metal foil envelope constitutes an attractive packageand a desirable marketable article, but such use is subject to certaindisadvantages which have interfered with satisfying the present demandfor a cigar thus packaged.

Among these disadvantages is'the inconvenient necessity for tearing themetal foil, which is an operation difllcult to initiate if the envelopebe adequately sealed in order to preserve the cigar in fresh smokablecondition, with its aroma unimpaired and its proper moisture contentpreserved.

Under these conditions, an object of the present invention is toprovide, as a new article of manufacture, a cigar enfolded transverselyby a readily detachable wrapper having a metal foil wrapping componentformed with a lengthwise heat-sealed seam.

A cognate object is to provide such a metal foil wrapper in which thecontinuity of the edge of the metal foil component is interrupted toprovide a tongue or like salient portion which may be readily pulled,thereby developing a tear along one or more lines. eflective to rupturethe wrapper suitably to accomplish the destruction of the wrapper, andto permit its complete re- .moval by slipping it from the cigar, leavingthe latter intact.

A further object is to provide an improved method of fabricating metalfoil wrappers, each with a heat-sealed longitudinal seam formed in placeupon the cigars, in order to produce the above described packages eachincluding a cigar and its envelope.

Another object is to provide a metal-foilwrapped cigar having aheat-sealed longitudinal seam concealed completely by the terminal freelengthwise edge of the polished foil wrapper, which accordingly presentsa bright highly p01- ished metallic finish throughout its superficies.

Ancillary objects are, to provide a machine of the class described withmeans for so cutting, nicking or scoring the wrapper at one or moreregions, transversely to the length of the cigar,

and/or slitting or scoring the wrapper lengthwise, before or during thesealing of its longitudinal scam in such fashion that the wrapper can bereadily removed from the cigar without injuring the cigar; also toprovide a machine which will operate satisfactorily on cigars ofdifferent sizes or shapes.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear as thedescription of the particular physical embodiment of the inventionselected for disclosure herein progresses.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or likeparts:

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view of a diagrammatic character,illustrating a step in the method of providing a cigar with a wrapper inaccordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating a further step in carrying outsaid method;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, detail view in sectional perspective,illustrating a cigar with a wrapper provided with a longitudinal seamhaving a lengthwise slit and transverse nicks, formed prior to foldingthe seam against the cigar;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, detail view similar to Fig. 3, in which therelative disposition of the transverse nicks and lengthwise slit issomewhat modified;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view in perspective illustrating theinitial step of opening the package;

Fig. 6 is a full view in perspective of the completed package ready forthe market;

Fig. 7 is a similar view illustrating the package with a medial part ofthe wrapper torn away by propagation of the rupture initiated as shownin Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 illustrates in perspective a package having a longitudinalheat-sealed seam provided with a modified interruption of the seam tofacilitate rupture, and to permit ready removal of the wrapper;

Fig. 9 is a view of the package shown in Fig. 8,

illustrating the mode of initiating and continupreliminary tofabrication of the packages, ac-

cording to the present invention;

present invention, said machine being of the turret type? Fig. 14 is aview in end elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 13; I

Figs. 15 to 21 inclusive are views of a'diagrammatic character in sideelevation. partly in section, of a cigar and of the machine elementsassociated in performing the several wrapping and sealing steps whichenter into the method of the present invention and which steps will behereinafter described;

Fig. 22 is a view of a schematic character in sectional elevation whichillustrates co-operating elements ofa chain-operated machine for use infabrication of the improved packages according to the method of theinvention;

Fig. 23 is a similar view in end elevation of the folding mechanismshown in Fig. 22;

Figs. 24 to 31 inclusive are views of a diagrammaticcharacter in sideelevation, partly in section, of a cigar and of the machine elementsassociated therewith in performing the wrapping and sealing steps whichenter into the method of the present invention, by means of thechainoperated machine illustrated in Figs. 22 and 23;

Fig. 82 is a-fragmentary detail view of a device for scoring the web ofwrapping material longitudinally, instead of slitting it, the device ofthis view being adapted for substitution in the arrangement shown inFig. 11, where it may take the. place of the elements 21 and 22.

' In its broad, generic aspect, the initial step in fabrication of thearticle which constitutes an illustrative example of various productsthat maybe similarly fabricated according to the present invention, isherein shown as accom- P lshed by folding around the four sides of acigar C a blank W of wrapping material in such a manner that the edgesEl and E2 of the blank meet at one corner of the cigar and project fromthat .eorner with their like faces facing one another, as shown in Fig.1, it being understood that, for purposes of illustration, the wrapperblank .is made of metal foil F, (see Figs. 1, 3 and 4), backed withglassene paper as at P, and coated with a suitable thermoplasticlacquer, as at D. This adhesive may take the form of any well-knownlacquer on the market to-day, such for instance as a lacquer composed ofnitropressed together and sealed by heat, and the seam so. formed isthen folded. back upon the cigar package as shown in Fig. 2.

Provision for removal of the wrapping in a manner which will preservethe cigar intact is achieved by forming in the overlapping seam twotransverse cuts or nicks N, Figs. 3 and 4, and by forming in the inneredge El of the web, near the fold of the overlap, a longitudinal cut L.

Figs. 1 and 2, extending across, Fig. 3 or between, Fig. 4, thetransverse cuts N, so that the section S of the wrapper between thetransverse cuts can be easily torn out, as shown in Fig. 7 leaving theresidual parts of the wrapper free to be slipped off the ends of thecigar. The cut L is preferably made'a little distance away from thecigar, so that, when the web is folded as shown in Fig. 2, there is aportion of the sealed lap between the cigar and the cut, thus sealingthe cigar completely The same object may also be achieved by onlyscoring instead of cutting the web longitudinally, so that there is noactual opening in the web even if the line L is made at the fold of edgeEl or between the fold and the cigar. The latter method however requirestearing of the web on the scored line L and thus makes the removal ofthe wrapper more diflicult. If desired, the cut or score-line L may evenbe omitted entirely, in which case it is necessary to first tear acrossthe edge El of the wrapper along the innerfold between the nicks N, andthen to remove the strip 8 by pulling the edge E2 between the nicks awayfrom the cigar as before. The transverse cuts N serve to define thewidth of the tear strip 8 and to start the tearing; the longitudinal cutL all but separates the sealed lap of the tear strip from the insidelayer of the wrapper and thus makes it possible to tear across the foldof the inside layer almost unobstructedly, the sealed portion of theinside layer coming away practically without any tearing.

The longer longitudinal cut, across the transverse cuts, as in Fig. 3,is preferable from the standpoint of easy removal of the wrapping,because, with the shorter cut shown in Fig. 4, the material remainingbetween the ends of the longitudinal on. and the transverse cuts must betom in removing the nicked section and therefore offers additionalresistance.

The ends of the wrapping W, after the longitudinal seam has been sealedand nicked, are folded and sealed in the usual manner, the finishedcigar package presenting the appearance shown in Fig. 6. Upon tearingout the nicked section 8, the ends W" of the wrapping are loose on thecigar C, Fig. 'l, and can be readily slipped off endwise.

The improved package may be simplified by omitting the longitudinal cutL and by replacing the two transverse nicks N by a single oblique nickN, as in Fig. 8. The wrapping W may then be removed by pulling up theloose flap F and tearing on a portion of the seam El, E2 in the axialdirection as shown in Fig. 9. This will expose the torn edge El of theinner fold, which can then be lifted up and torn transversely, thusfreeing the ends W" of the wrapper as before.

- If desided, a window for the inspection of the cigar may be providedby cutting openings 0 in the tinfoil web WI at package-length intervalsand by attaching a strip A of Cellophane or other suitable transparentmaterial to the back or inside of the web, as shown in Fig. 10, in whichthe wrapper also has a cigar band B printed on it.

The longitudinal cut L is made before sealing the axial seam, preferablyoutside of the foldin unit of the enveloping machine, while thetransverse cuts N or the oblique cut N' are most expediently made duringthe sealing period, immediately after pressing together the edges El andE2, although, in case of a short longitudinal cut Fig. 4, they may bemade before folding, outside of the sealing unit. In Fig 11, anarrangement for cutting the longitudinal slit L into the web is shown.The web W is intermittently fed from a reel 30 over rollers 3|, 32, 33and 34, carrying a floating roller 35 in the loop between rollers 33 and34, to take up any slack. The motion is imparted by feed rollers 35 orother known means. At the proper points, a knife blade 31 co-acting witha suitable ledger block 38, and a cut-off 39 are placed, the formerbeing actuated by a camoperated lever 40, and the latter by acam-controlled lever The nicked wrapper W is shown in Fig. 12, the cutpanel being put back into place, the wrapper being shown as it wouldappear if opened up after folding and nicking. Thus, at one margin, asat N", N", the web is shown as only nicked, and not slitted. The variousforms of packages exemplified in Figs 1-10 and 12 and the apparatusshown in Fig. 11 constitute the subject matter of my divisionalapplication Serial No. 264,075, filed March 25, 1939.

The method of folding, sealing and nicking the wrapper may be, andpreferably is, substantially the same for all types of cigar-envelopingmachines, vary g only in the different steps necessary to bring aboutthe required results.

In a turret-operated machine, such as that disclosed in U. S. Patent1,899,174 to H. H Wheeler, the cigar C, fed by a chain 42, Fig. 13, isplaced by a transfer arm 43, oscillating on a shaft 44, into the jaws 45of the receiving pocket I of a turret 45 intermittently turning on ashaft 41, and is then advanced to the folding station II, and finally tothe delivery station III. where it is taken from the turret pocket anddeposited upon a conveyor 48 which carries it away to be boxed. Instation IV the turret pocket is idle. When entering the turret pocket atstation I, the cigar C which is supported by uides 48 carries with it asection of the wrapping web W which is fed across the turret in guides50. the jaws 45 acting as folders, wrapping the web W around three sidesof the cigar C Above station II of the turret is mounted the folding andnicking mechanism, Figs. 13 and 14, which consists of a heater arm whichcarries an electric heating cartridge 52 and a heater block 53, a webbedfolder arm. 54 carrying a folder plate 55, and a knife arm 55 to whichthe nicking cutters 51 are attached, all three arms being looselymounted on a shaft 58 supported in side frames not shown. The cutters 51extend when nicking the wrapper, from slots 58 provided in the workingface of folding plate 55. The heater arm 5| on an extension 5| has aroller '52 engaging with a cam 53 on a shaft 54, and the knife arm 55 onan extension 55 has a roller 55 in engagement with a cam 51 on shaft 54.The knife arm is connected with the heater arm by a spring 58 attachedto a post 58 carried by an extension 1'1 of the latter, this springholding the rollers 52 and 55 on their respective cams. The knife arm.has a pin 1| projecting through an extension of the folder arm web andcarrying a spring 12 tensioned by nuts 13. This spring holds the knifearm against a stop 14 on the folder arm, so that, on the inward motion,both arms advance in unison in response to cam 51 until the foldingplate 55 comes to rest against the heater block 53, whereupon the knifearm advances alone against the pressure of spring 12, being drawn by thestronger spring 58, and the cutters 51 then enter into slots 15 providedin block 53. It will be noted that the arm 54 derives its inwardmovement entirely from the bias of spring 58, communicated through arm55, bolt 1|, nuts 13 and spring 12, so that the arm 54 can be arrestedby the cam 51 and yet permit the arm 55 to be advanced.

In the receiving position, Fig. 15, the turret jaws 45 are open and atension plate 15, with which each pocket of the turret 45 is provided,is by a spring in the turret arm held in its outermost position close tothe wrapping web W. As the cigar C is pushed into the turret pocket,Fig. 16, the wrapping web W is clamped between the cigar and the tensionplate 15 and is folded around three sides of the cigar by the Jaws 45which close upon the cigar on entering the pocket. Upon receiving thecigar, the turret indexes, moving the pocket from the receiving stationI to the folding station II with the open web edges now extendingupwards between the heater block 53 and the folding plate 55, as shownin Fig. 17. In this position, the cams 53 and 51 permit the arms 5| and54 to move towards each other,

bringing the block 53 and the plate 55 into sealing position, Fig. 18,the arm 54 moving with arm 55 due to the spring connection of pin 1|. Assoon as the plate 55 has come to rest on the overlapping edges ofwrapper W on block 53, Fig. 19, the arm 55 leaves the stop 14 of arm 54by compressing the spring 12 on pin 1|, thus causing the cutters 51 topass through the seam of wrapper W and enter the slots 15 of block 53.The seam thus havingbeen nicked as shown at N in Figs. 3 and 4, thecontinued motion of cam 51 causes the arm 55 to move back, Fig. 20,thereby first restoring the cutters 51 to their neutral position againststop 14, and then returning the arm 54 and plate 55 to their startingposition. At the same time, the cam 53 compels the arm 5| to move to itsinmost position, thereby causing the block 53 to fold the now sealed andnicked seam of the wrapper W over against the cigar C, thus completingthe wrapping operation as far as the lengthwise seam is concerned. Themechanism for folding the ends of the cigar package, which operation isperformed at the same station 11 of the turret after the seam has beenturned, is omitted from Figs. 13 and 14, as it does not affect thepresent invention. Upon turning the seam, the arm 5| moves back, Fig.21, thus restoring the folding mechanism to its starting position, readyfor the admittance of the next cigar package.

When stopping the machine during operation, the action of disengagingthe driving clutch raises a connecting rod 11, Figs. 13 and 14,connected to a bell crank 18 on a shaft 19, thereby moving a link 80carrying a pin 8| engaging in a slot 82 provided in the web of heaterarm 5|. The slot 82 is just long enough to permit the free motion of arm5| due to cam 53, the pin 8| being at the inner end of the slot in theoutermost position of arm 5| and at the outer end of the slot in itsinnermost position. Thus, when the link 80 is moved by stopping themachine, the pin 8| pushes the arm 5| outward if the heater block 53 isin contact with the web W at that moment thereby preventing possiblescorching of the wrapper. If arm 5| is already at a safe distance onstopping the machine, the pin 8| will move freely in slot 82 withoutdisturbing the position of the heater block.

When the present invention is to be embodied in a chain-operated machinewith straight-line propagation between working stations, such as thewrapping and banding machine described in my United States LettersPatent No. 2,077,431, issued April 20, 1937, the cigar C fed by thechain 82, on which it is held by jaws 83, Fig. 22, is raised from alower to a higher level, during which transfer it picks up its sectionof the web W, which is fed horizontally between the two levels.

On the upper chain 84 are gear boxes 38 operated by cross-shafts 88which actuate members 81 carrying jaws 88 for receiving the cigars to bewrapped. The cigars are transferred from the lower to the upper level bya lifting rod 39 and clamp arms 90 which insert the cigar into the jaws88 with the web W folded around three sides of the cigar. Theintermittently moving chain 84 then takes the cigar C with the wrapper Wto the folding station of the machine, Figs. 22 and 23, in which theforward edge E2 of the wrapper W lies against the face of a heater block9I. The latter has hubbed arms 92 by which it is fixedly mounted on ashaft 93 supported by bearings 94 connected by a bracket 98 and attachedto the side frames 98 of the machine.

The shaft 93 supports a frame 91 swinging loosely on hubs 98 (see Fig.23) positioned by collars 99 and carrying a folder plate I 00. On shaft93 is also swingably mounted a frame IOI carrying a block I02 to whichthe nicker blades I03 are affixed, the latter extending into slots I04provided in the face of the folder plate I00. The frame IOI has an armI05 in which is pivoted a connecting rod I08 attached to a cam lever I01fulcrumed on a shaft I08 supported in frames 98. The lever I01 carries aroller I09 engaging with a cam IIO on a shaft III, this cam thuscontrolling the movement of nicker frame IN. A spring H2 from a pin H3in frame 91 to a pin H4 in arm I05 of frame I0'I holds a projectingledge iii of frame 91 against the back of block I02 so that the folderframe 91 follows the movement of nicker frame IOI as long as there is noobstruction in the path of folder plate I00.

When the machine is to be stopped, the stop is effected by disengagingthe main clutch of the machine by turning the control lever shaft H8,and a crank lever II1 moves a horizontal bar II8 supported on an arm II9(see Fig. 22), swinging on a shaft I20, so that a roller I 2I mounted onsaid bar moves to a position I21 and engages with a cam piece I22,thereby lifting a lever I23 fulcrumed on a horizontal stud I24 intoposition I23. The lever I23 is connected by a rod I25 to a crank arm I28fast on shaft 93, thus turning this shaft and, with it, the arms 92carrying the heater block 9|, thus throwing the latter out of engagementwith the wrapping web W in case the machine is stopped during thesealing period. One of the arms 92 has a horizontal extension I21 whichis biased away from bracket 95 by a spring I28 on a stud I29 passingthrough extension I21 and having adjusting screws I30, to limit theforemost position to which the heating member 9| can be advancedyieldingly by the spring I28.

As the cigar C enters the transfer station, Fig. 24, the lifter rod 89and the transfer arms 90 are below the chain 82 in an open position.After the chain has come to rest, Fig. 25, the jaws 83 open, the rod 89with the arms 90 rises, and the arms 90 close on the cigar. The rod 89and the arms 90 then continue to ascend, Fig. 26, inserting the cigarCinto the holding jaws 88 of chain 84 which then close upon the cigarwhile the arms 90 open. While the laws 88 then move forward, Fig. 27,the lifter 89 and the arms 90 descend to their starting position belowthe jaws 83, the chain 84 stopping when the cigar C is in sealingposition above shaft 93 of the fold ing mechanism which until this timeis in its neutral position. Upon the arrival of the cigar in the sealingposition, Fig. 28, the arm I05 is actuated by cam III, (see Fig. 23).causing the frame IN to turn in the direction of the arrow. (Fig. 28),thereby, owing to the spring connection I I2 of frame 81, (Fig. 22),closing the folder plate I00 against the heater block 9| (Fig. 28) withthe edges of wrapper W clamped between them, thus sealing the same. Asthe arm I05 then continues to turn, Fig. 29, the block I02 leaves theledge II! of frame 91 which can no longer follow the movement, and theknives I03 pass through the seam of wrapper W into slots I3I provided inthe face of heater block 9|, thus producing the nicks N (see Fig. 12).The arm I05 then turns the frame MI in the opposite direction, Fig. 30,thereby returning the cutters I03 and the folder plate I00 to theirstarting position. As the chain 84 then advances, Fig. 31, the sealedcigar package passes from the heater block 9I onto a plate I32 supportedby a bracket I33, Fig. 22, the nicked seam W being conformed by heat andlightpressure toward the cigar C during its passage over the top ofblock 9|. The seam folding mechanism remains in its neutral positionuntil the next cigar package arrives in sealing position.

, Fig. 32 illustrates a now-preferred form of device for scoring thewrapping web, this device when employed being substituted in theposition occupied by the cutting members 31 and 38, Fig. 11. A slide I34is provided with a slot I35 in which is journaled the scoring memberI38, said slide being guided in a slideway I31 and retained in positionby a bottom plate I38. Plate I38 is held in position by compressionsprings I39 disposed between said plate and the base of hanging bracketsI40. Studs I supported in each of the brackets I40 at their lower end,fit loosely into openings provided near the ends of plate I38 preventingsaid plate from shifting in a lengthwise direction. A bracket I42,adjustably mounted on a bar I43 of the machine carries the slideway I31.The brackets I40 depend from the member I31 and at their upper endscarry a cutting bar I44 equipped with adjusting screws I48 providingfinely adjustable means for maintaining the desired clearance betweenthe scoring disc I38 and the portion I44a of bar I44. The web W, fed inthe same manner as previously described, passes over a table I48 carriedby slideway I31 and under bar I44. When the forward feeding of the webis stopped, a lever I41 actuated by a cam, not shown, moves the slideI34 causing member I38 to engage the portion of the web W restingagainst section I44a, thereby scoring the web. The movement of the slideis so timed that the scoring of the web is done at desired spacedintervals. When the scoring operation is completed, the slide retreats,returning member I38 to its starting position before advancement of theweb. A cross strip I48 of table I48, over which strip the web W passes,raises the same sumciently to clear member I38. The bracket I42 isprovided with elongated slots I49 permitting lateral adjustment of thedevice to care for diflerent widths of wrapping webs.

From the foregoing disclosure, it will be understood readily thatprovision is made for avoiding substantially the inconveniencesheretofore encountered in removing heat-sealed wrappers each embodying ametal foil wrapper component from individual cigar packages. and so thisdesirably bright and attractive polished metal finish is made moreavailable, without detracting from the preservation of the cigar, intactas to structure and aroma.

It is also apparent that this desirable result has been attained by thenovel method of slitting the wrapper herein pointed out; and thatimproved apparatus of both turret type and chain.

type has been provided to carry the aforesaid method into effect.

It is to be understood that while I have disclosed what I believe to bethe best embodiments of the present invention now known to me,nevertheless the particular physical embodiments herein illustrated anddescribed are not to be considered as exhausting the possibleembodiments of the basic idea of means underlying the invention.

What is claimed is: I

1. The method of providing cigars successively with readily detachableindividual wrappers, each having a longitudinal hermetically sealedseam, said method comprising the step of advancing a web of wrappingmaterial, and slitting or scoring said web near at least one marginaledge to weaken the web locally at intervals along its length; the stepof severing said web transversely at regions intermediate said weakenedregions, thus forming individual wrappers each having a weakened regionadjacent to at least one edge, and the step of folding each wrapperaround a cigar transversely of its length with said weakened edge ormargin adjoining the margin of the opposite long side of the wrapper;the step of sealing said adjoining margins together hermetically alongtheir mutually contiguous longitudinal edge zones to form a lengthwiseseam from end to end of the wrapper; and the step of slitting or scoringsaid duplex seam structure transversely inward from its outer edge todefine in each wrapper a duplex tongue bounded by said lengthwise andtransverse weakenings, and adapted, when pulled, to propagate lines ofrupture efiective to separate from the body of the wrapper a stripdesigned, by being thus torn away, to destroy the wrapper and permitready removal of its residue from the cigar while preserving the cigarintact.

2. The method of providing cigars successively with readily detachableindividual wrappers, each having a longitudinal hermetically sealedseam, said method comprising the step of advancing a web of wrappingmaterial and scoring said web at suitably spaced regions, alongside atleast one marginal edge, to weaken the web locally at such intervalsalong its length; the step of severing said web transversely at regionsintermediate said weakened regions, thus forming individual wrapperseach having a weakened region adjacent to at least one edge; and thestep of folding each wrapper around a cigar transversely of its lengthwith said weakened marginal zone adjoining the margin of the oppositelong side of the wrapper; the step of sealing said adjoining marginstogether hermetically along their mutually contiguous longitudinal edgezones to form a lengthwise seam from end to end of the wrapper; and thestep of slitting or scoring said duplex seam structure transverselyinward from its outer edge to define in each wrapper a duplex tonguebounded by said lengthwise scoring and transverse slits or scorings, andadapted, when pulled, to separate from the body of the wrapper a stripdesigned to destroy the wrapper and permit ready removal of its residuefrom the cigar, while preserving the cigar intact.

backed with a sealing component including 9. ply

of cellulosic fabric coated with an elastic lacquer adapted to berendered adhesive by heat; the step of scoring said foil at suitablyspaced regions, alongside of at least one marginal edge, to weaken thefoil component of said web locally at such intervals along its length,while preserving the sealing component intact; the step of severing saidweb transversely at regions intermediate said weakened regions, thusforming individual wrappers each having a marginal weakened region; thestep of folding each wrapper'arou'nd a cigar transversely of its lengthwith said weakened zone adjoining the margin of the opposite long sideof the wrapper; the step of heat-sealing said adjoining margins togetheralong their mutually contiguous longitudinal edge zones to form alengthwise seam from end to end of the wrapper, including in said seamsaid lengthwise weakened region; and the step of slitting or scoringsaid duplex seam structure transversely inward from its outer edge todefine in each wrapper a sealed tongue bounded by said lengthwisescoring and transverse slits or scorings, and adapted, when pulled, torupture said seal and to separate from the body of the wrapper a stripdesigned to destroy the wrapper by propagating said rupture, and thus topromote removal readily of the residue of said wrapper from the cigar,while preserving the cigar intact.

4. The method of providing cigars successively with readily detachableindividual wrappers, said method including the steps claimed in claim 3,in which said web is fabricated of metal foil backed with a sealingcomponent including a ply of glassene paper coated with a latex lacquer,and in which said margins are cohered under pressure.

5. The method of providing cigars successively with readily detachableindividual wrappers, said method comprising the step of weakeningwrapper-blank parts locally to form tongues by which rupture of eachblank may be initiated and propagated; the step of heat-sealingcontiguous margins of each wrapper to form a. seam from end to end ofthe wrapper; and the step of folding over the seamed ends of saidwrapper with the ends of the seam enfolded.

6. The method of providing a cigar with a readily detachable individualwrapper having a lengthwise enfolded seam, said method comprising thestep of supplying a wrapper blank of metal foil backed with a sealingcomponent including a ply of cellulosic fabric coated with aself-adhesive lacquer; the step of folding said wrapper transverselyaround the cigar; the step of approaching together the coated margins atopposite margins of the wrapper blank and adhering together theircontiguous adhesive zones; the step of bending over said adhered marginsto revert one edge of the seam into juxtaposition with the underlyingbody zone of the wrapper, and to lay the edge of said metal foil inoutwardly exposed disposition covering the seam; and the step ofweakening said seamed structure prior to said folding step, to provide apulling tongue by which rupture of the wrapper body can be initiated andpropagated.

7. The method of providing a cigar with a wrapper having a lengthwiseenfolded heat-sealed seam, said method comprising the step of supplyinga wrapper blank having one surface coated with heat-softening adhesive;the step of folding said wrapper around the cigar and bringing intocontiguous relation the coated marginal surfaces of the initially remoteedges; the step of seaming said mutually contiguous areas by heat andpressure applied while the edges are extended away.

from the cigar; and the step of wiping said seamed edges against thecigar while applying heat exclusively to the outer face of theunderlying triplex seam-and-body structure.

8. The method of providing a cigar with a wrapper having a lengthwiseenfolded heat-sealed seam, said method comprising the steps claimed inclaim 7, in which said wrapper blank is supplied with a body ply ofpolished metal foil whereby upon performance of said step of wiping saidenfolded seam structure with pressure and heat, the pressure iscushioned and the heating action moderated by the existence, between theheating member and the cigar, of three triplex layers each includingmetal foil, cellulose fabric and elastic lacquer, a polished metal foilcomponent receiving the incidence of the heating member.

9. Apparatus for providing cigars successively with readily detachableindividual wrappers each having a longitudinal hermetically sealed seam,said apparatus comprising means for advancing a web of wrappingmaterial; means for slitting or scoring said web lengthwise near atleast one marginal edge, at regions spaced apart lengthwise, to weakenthe web locally at said regions; and means to sever said webtransversely intermediate said regions to provide individualcigarwrappers each with a scored, weakened marginal portionsubstantially parallel with one lengthwise edge.

10. An apparatus of the class described, in which means are provided toreceive a marginally weakened wrapper as advanced from a source of saidwrappers, such as an apparatus having the features claimed in claim 9;means to assemble said wrapper in enfolding relation with a cigar,presenting the slitted, weakened margin side by side with the oppositemargin; means to press said marginal portions into surface contact; andmeans to heat their mutually contiguous zones to form a seam double edgeextending away from the cigar.

11. An apparatus of the class described, in which means are provided toreceive a marginally weakened wrapper as advanced from a source of saidwrappers, such as an apparatus having the features claimed in claim 9;means to assemble said wrapper in enfolding relation with a cigar,presenting the slitted, weakened margin side by side with the oppositemargin; means to press said marginal portions into surface con tact;means to heat their mutually contiguous zones to form a seam double edgeextending away from the cigar; and means to bend said seamed marginscircumferentially around said cigar while applying heat exclusively tothe exterior of the multi-ply wrapper structure, said structureincluding an underlying ply of the body of said wrapper and also thereverted seam-ply, and the overlying seam-ply first named.

12. An apparatus of the class described, in which means are provided toreceive a marginally weakened wrapper as advanced from a source of saidwrappers, such as an apparatus having the features claimed in claim 9;means to assemble said wrapper in enfolding relation with a cigar,presenting the slitted, weakened margin side by side with the oppositemargin; means to press said marginal portions into surface contact:

means to heat their mutually contiguous zones to form a seam double edgeextending away from the cigar; and devices movable toward each other tobend said seamed margins circumferentially around and adjacent thealready wrapped periphery of said cigar, and to thereafter apply heatthereto, said bending device being movable from the path of said heatingdevice, and said heating device being constructed and arranged to applyheat exclusively to the exterior surface of the multi-ply wrapperstructure constituted by said bent-over seam.

13. Apparatus of the class described, comprising, in combination, amovable support adapted to present at a wrapping station a cigar havinga wrapper enfolding a moiety of its periphery, with the opposite marginsof said wrapper presented side by side toward said station; and devicesmovable toward each other to press said marginal portions into sealingcontact to form a seam extending away from the cigar; one of saidcomplemental pressing devices being provided with a means to form aweakened portion in at least one of said extended seam-componentmargins, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

14. Apparatus of the class described, said apparatus having the featuresclaimed in claim 13, inwhich the slitting device is adapted to moverelatively to the pressing device during the slitting operation.

15. Apparatus of the class described, said apparatus having the featuresclaimed in claim 13, in which the slitting device is adapted to moverelatively to the pressing device during the slitting operation whilethe pressing device confines the seam.

16. Apparatus of the class described having the features claimed inclaim 13, in which a turret mechanism provided with severalcigar-receiving sockets is adapted to be indexed to stations including afirst station provided with a means to insert a cigar into a turretsocket, and a means to support a wrapper blank which is draped upon thecigar as it enters said lastnamed socket; then to a second stationprovided with folding, pressing and sealing devices; then to a dischargestation provided with a conveyor means to dispose of each packaged cigaras ejected from the said turret socket.

17. A wrapping and sealing mechanism of the class described, having thefeatures claimed in claim 13, in which said complemental pressingdevice, heating device, and wrapper-weakening device are swung from acommon axis, means to bias said pressing devices yieldingly intocooperative relation, and means acting positively at timed intervals toswing said pressing. devices apart.

18. A wrapping and sealing mechanism of the class described, saidmechanism comprising a pair of complemental pressing devices carried byarms of levers swung from a common axis; and characterized by having anintermediate arm associated with one of said presser arms and connectedtherewith by a spring under compression, said intermediate arm beingconnected with the complemental presser arm by a tension spring ofhigher value than said compression spring; and means to incapacitatesaid presser devices at predetermined intervals.

19. A wrapping and sealing mechanism of the class described, saidmechanism having the features claimed in claim 18, in which said presserdevices are adapted to operate upon a wrapper seam, and in which saidintermediate arm is provided with a nicking or scoring device, saidlastnamed device being arranged to be drawn into nicking engagement withsaid seam by prolonged action of said tension spring when said presserdevices are mutually engaged.

20. A wrapping and sealing mechanism of the class described, saidmechanism having the features claimed in claim 18, in which said presserdevices are adapted to operate upon a wrapper seam, and in which saidintermediate arm is provided with a nicking or scoring device; and inwhich said complemental presser device is provided with a face recessadapted to permit movement thereinto by said nicking device beyond thelimit defined by abutting pressure engagement of the complementalpressing devices.

21. A wrapping and sealing mechanism or the class described, saidmechanism having the features claimed in claim 18, in which said presserdevices are adapted to operate upon a wrapper seam, and in which saidintermediate arm is provided with a nicking or scoring device; and inwhich said complemental presser device is provided with a face recessadapted to permit movement thereinto by said nicking device intersectingthe plane in which the wrapper seam the first place to apply thepresser-heater device to an outstanding seam component, then to advancethe complemental presser device with a wiping stroke against the otheroutstanding seam component, sweeping it into contact with thefirst-named seam component and holding it under pressure while heat isapplied, then to advance the nicking device beyond its associatedpresser device while the complemental devices hold the seam underpressure, then to advance the heater-presser device to wipe the seamover and against the enwrapped cigar, while positively retracting thecomplemental presser device from action and also retiring the nickingarm positively, thereby placing the compression spring under compressionand placing the tension spring under initial tension, and thereafterwithdrawing said heater-presser device completely and storin normalenergy in the tension spring.

23. The combination with upper and lower endless conveyor systemsprovided with cigar grippers, means for transferring the cigars from onesystem to the other system, and means spaced along said systems forwrapping said cigars and forming heat-sealed lengthwise seams while saidcigars are held by said conveyor systems.

24. In a wrapping machine of the class deeing to wipe the seam down overthe bottom of the cigar during the further movement of said conveyor.

25. A wrapping machine having the features claimed in claim 24, in whichone of said presser devices has a heating element and occupiesasubstantially fixed position intersecting the path of advancement ofsaid depending edges, and said complemental presser device is mounted toswing in an arcuate path also intersecting said path of advancement,acting to fold the trailing rear edge around the fourth side of thearticle into heat-sealing contact with said other edge.

26. A wrapping machine having the features claimed in claim 24, in whichone of said presser devices has a heating element and occupies asubstantially fixed position intersecting the path of advancement ofsaid depending edges, and saidlcomplemental presser device is mounted toswing in an arcuate path also intersecting said path of advancement,acting to fold the trailing rear edge around the fourth side of thearticle into heat-sealing contact with said other edge, and in whichadvancement of said, conveyor is suspended while said heat sealing iseffected, with the seam components projecting from the body of thecigar.-

2'7. A wrapping machine having the features claimed in claim 24, inwhich one of said presser devices has a heating element and occupies asubstantially fixed position intersecting the path of advancement ofsaid depending edges," and said complemental presser device is mountedto swing in an arcuate path also intersecting said path of advancement,acting tofold the trailing rear edge around the fourth'side of thearticle into heat-sealing contact with said other edge, and in whichfurther advancement of the cigar with said heat-sealed seam trailing,wipes said seam rearwardly against the body side of the wrapper justenfolded, reverting the inner edge of the seam, and ironing the freeedge of the seam smoothly over the seam, by virtue simply of saidadvancing movement over the heated presser device against the yieldingpressure opposed by the substantially elastic cigar structure with itsenvelope.

28. A wrapping machine having the features claimed in claim 24, in whichone of said presser devices has a heating element and occupies asubstantially fixed position intersecting the path of advancement ofsaid depending edges, and said complemental presser'device is mounted toswing in an arcuate path also intersecting said path of advancement,acting to fold the trailing rear edge around the fourth side of thearticle into heat-sealing. contact with said other edge, and in whichfurther advancement of the cigar with said heat-sealed seam trailing,wipes said seam rearwardly against the body side of the wrapper justenfolded, reverting the inner edge of the seam, and ironing the freeedge of the seam smoothly over the seam, by virtue simply of saidadvancing movement over the heated "presser device against the yieldingpressure upposed by the substantially elastic cigar structure with itsenvelope; and connections to the general stopping devices of themachine, whereby, when such a stopping device operates, theheater-presser device is moved out of intersection with the path of theadvancing cigar wrapper, thus incapacitating the heater presser fromexerting a harmful heating eilect upon the cigar and/or the wrapper.

29. A wrapping machine having the features claimed in claim 24, in whichone of said presser devices has a heating element and occupies asubstantially fixed position intersecting the path of advancement ofsaid depending edges, and said complemental presser device is mounted toswing in an arcuate path also intersecting said path of advancement,acting to fold the trailing rear edge around the fourth side of thearticle into heat-sealing contact with said other edge, and in whichfurther advancement of the cigar with said heat-sealed seam trailing,wipes, said seam rearwardly against the .body side of the wrapper justenfolded, reverting the inner edge of the seam and ironing the free edgeof the seam smoothly over the seam, by virtue simply of said advancingmovement over the heated presser device against the yielding pressureopposed by the substantially elastic cigar structure with its envelope;and connections to the general stopping devices of the machine, whereby,when such a stopping device operates, the heaterpresser device is movedout of intersection with the path of the advancing cigar wrapper, thusincapacitating the heater presser from exerting a harmful heating effectupon the cigar and/or the wrapper, said heater being rehabilitatedautomatically when the machine is started.

30. A wrapping machine having the features claimed in claim 24, in whichone of said presser devices occupies a substantially fixed positionintersecting the path of advancement of said depending edges, and inwhich an intermediate nicker or scoring device moves to and fro in anarcuate path with said complemental device, acting to intersect thecompleted seam structure, in order to weaken it locally.

31. A wrapping machine having the features claimed in claim 24, in whichone of said presser devices occupies a substantially fixed positionintersecting the path of advancement of said depending edges, and inwhich an intermediate nicker or scoring device moves to and fro in anarcuate path with said' complemental device, acting to intersect thecompleted seam structure, in order to weaken it locally, and means tomove said nicking device relatively to said last-named complementaldevice and into engagement with said heater-presser device while saidseam is under pressure as aforesaid.

32. A wrapping and sealing mechanism having the features claimed inclaim 24, in which said heater-presser component is mounted loosely upona shaft and provided with means to define the angular position of saidmember relatively to the shaft.

33. A wrapping and sealing mechanism having the features claimed inclaim 24, in which said heater-presser component is mounted loosely upona shaft and provided with means to define the angular position of saidmember relatively to the shaft, said means including a coil spring undercompression acting to bias said component yieldingly toward the path ofthe wrapper, and an adjustable abutment to limit said bias.

34. A wrapping and sealing mechanism having the features claimed inclaim 24, in which said heater-presser component is mounted loosely upona shaft and provided with means to define the angular position of saidmember relatively to the shaft, said means including a coil spring undercompression acting to bias said component yieldingly toward the path ofthe wrapper, and an adjustable abutment to limit said bias, said partscooperating to constitute a resilient presser abutment against whichsaid complemental presser device completes the sealing operation upon apackage seam.

35. A wrapping and sealing mechanism as claimed in claim 24, in whichsaid complemental presser device is operated by a lever arm actuated bya connecting rod forming part of a toggle, the joint f said toggle beingprovided with a cam, and a eciprocating link mounted to oscillate withsaid cam; and thereby to move said presser device toward the fixedpresser device.

36. A wrapping and sealing mechanism as claimed in claim 24, in whichsaid complemental presser device is operated by a lever arm actuated bya connecting rod forming part of a toggle, the joint of said togglebeing provided with a cam, and a reciprocating link mounted to oscillatewith said cam, and thereby to move said presser device toward the fixedpresser device, and a tension spring interposed between said lever armand said presser device, serving to communicate to the latter anexclusively yielding pressure.

37. In a wrapping machine of the class described, in combination, anendless conveyor having a series of grippers adapted to advance with itstop face uppermost in a substantially straight run a series of cigars orthe like each enfolded on three sides by a wrapper draped thereon withdepending edges, and a pair of complemental pressing devices adapted tobe engaged with said depending edges for folding them together into anoutstanding seam and heat-sealing said seam, one of said devices actingto wipe down the seam over the bottom of the cigar during the furthermovement of said conveyor and being heated to fuse the seam to thewrapper at said side.

JOSEPH A. NEUMAIR.

